Paint brushes



P 1, 1964 R. L. WElSS 3,146,480

PAINT BRUSHES Filed. May 1, 1962 L31; 4 j I I INVENTOR. 4 fag/5E7 A News United States Patent 3,146,480 PAINT BRUSHES Robert L. Weiss, Wooster, Ohio, assignor to The Wooster Brush Company, Wooster, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed May 1, 1962, Ser. No. 191,495 8 Claims. ((31. 15-493) This invention relates to paint brushes of the type having separate handle and bristle-receiving portions, and to means for securing them unitarily together with the bristles to effect a solid brush structure.

The invention has for its primary object the provision of an article of the aforesaid nature which is characterized by its structural simplicity, its inexpensive manufacturing costs, the ease of assembly of its parts, the attractive forms in which the device may be made, and the particularly effective manner in which it performs its intended function.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a brush structure wherein the handle is directly bonded to and interlocked with the bristle portion, and a separate bristle-receiving portion is retained in telescoping relation with the handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brush structure of the above type wherein a single attaching means connects the handle, the bristle-receiving portion, the bristle portion and the ferrule into a sturdy brush structure.

Further objects of the present invention, and a number of its advantages, will be referred to in or will be evident from the following description of two embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a paint brush illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the paint brush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a section, similar to that shown in FIG. 4, of another embodiment of the invention.

Before the devices here illustrated are specifically described, it is to be understood that the invention here involved is not limited to the structural details or arrangement of parts here shown, as brush structures embodying the present invention may take various forms. It also is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, as the scope of the present invention is denoted by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, the brush structure of FIGS. 14 comprises a handle 1, a separate bristle-receiving portion 2, a bristle portion 3, and a ferrule 4, the ferrule being telescoped over portions of both the bristle-receiving portion and the bristle portion.

The handle 1, as herein illustrated, has an upwardly directed grip and a relatively short, downwardly directed shank 11, said shank being reduced in diameter relative to the grip whereby said handle affords a downwardly-facing shoulder 12 adjacent to said shank. The shank is preferably circular in cross section and is under cut adjacent its lowermost end to provide a suitably shaped groove 13 which may be and is here shown as V- shaped in section.

The bristle-receiving portion 2 is a blockiike member, preferably rectangular in shape, having a centrally located, vertical bore 20 adapted to receive the shank 11 telescoped therein. The vertical sides of the bristle-receiving portion are inwardly stepped a short distance below its upper surface to thereby provide a downwardly-facing shoulder 21 which extends completely around the bristle-receiving portion in a horizontal direction and is adapted to have the upper edge of the ferrule 4 seat thereagainst.

The handle and the bristle-receiving portion may be made of any suitable material, such as wood, plastic or the like. Brushes of the general type herein illustrated are commonly made of wood, and the downwardly-directed shank portions thereof are generally thread-fitted within a socket of the bristle-receiving portion. Such thread-fitting is unnecessary in brushes embodying the present invention, as will hereinafter become readily apparent.

The bristle portion 3 comprises a multiplicity of closelygrouped bristles 34 adapted to interfit the ferrule 4 and which are internally divided by a pair of separation strips 31, as clearly shown in FIG. 4. The upper surfaces of the separation strips are coplanar with the upper ends of the bristles 30, the separation strips being of any preferred number and being made of any suitable material, such as wood, plastic, metal, etc.

The ferrule 4, as herein illustrated, is made of sheet metal shaped in horizontal section to closely fit the side surfaces of the bristle-receiving portion 2 below the peripheral shoulder 21. The lower end portion of said ferrule may be and here is provided with one or more peripherally continuous, integrally formed ribs or beads 40 to reinforce the skirtlike ferrule in the area which receives the upper end of the bristle portion 3.

The handle, the bristle-receiving portion, the bristle portion and the ferrule are rigidly connected together by means of a bonding compound 5 which is disposed within the ferrule above the bristle portion 3. Assembly of the parts is preferably eflfected by first placing the upper end of the bristle portion within the lower end of the ferrule a substantial distance, as illustrated. The bonding compound 5 while in a liquid state, is then poured into the ferrule whereby a portion of said compound flows downwardly and permeates the upper ends of the bristles 30 and surrounds the separation strips 31. The bristle-receiving portion 2 is then inserted at the top of the ferrule and the shank 11 is inserted into the bore 20. The final positioning of the parts disposes the shoulder 12 of the handle against the upper surface of the bristle-receiving portion 2 and the shoulder 21 of said bristle-receiving portion against the upper edge of the ferrule 4. As herein illustrated, this disposes the lower end surface of the shank 11 closely adjacent or contiguous to the upper end of the bristle portion 3. As shown, the bonding compound 5 extends upwardly a sufficient distance to substantially fill and cover the groove 13, whereby when said compound subsequently solidifies, the lower end of the shank is bonded to and/or mechanically interlocked with said compound.

The bonding compound 5 may be any suitable composition, such as, for example, an epoxy resin which in its uncured state is liquid enough to permeate the upper ends of the bristles and which subsequently solidifies into a strong, rigid mass adhering firmly to the inner surface of the ferrule 4 and thereby affording a solid bristle knot at the upper end of the bristle portion 3. As will be readily understood, the rigidity of the cured compound 5 effects a mechanical interlock with the lower end of the shank due to the undercut of the groove 13.

The finished brush structure is a solid, unified construction. The bristle knot is firmly secured in place within the ferrule 4 by being bonded to the inner walls of said ferrule, the handle 1 is rigidly secured to the bristle portion 3 as the lower end of the shank is locked and bonded within the solidified bonding compound 5, and the bristle-receiving portion 2 is held solidly in place between the shoulder 12 in an upward direction and the shoulder 21 in a downward direction. Thus, by

the use of a single bonding material, the bristle knot is formed and all of the parts are rigidly secured together.

The second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. is quite similar to the first embodiment, and like parts have been given the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment with the exception that the numerals of the second embodiment have been primed. It will be seen, therefore, that the second embodiment, FIG. 5, has a handle 1', a bristle-receiving portion 2', a bristle portion 3', and a ferrule 4 which preferably is of metal. The handle 1 has an upwardly directed grip a downwardly directed and diametrically reduced shank 11', a downwardly facing shoulder 12, and a peripheral groove 13' at the lower end of said shank. The bristlereceiving portion 2 has a bore therein, to receive the shank 11, and a peripheral, downwardly facing shoulder 21'. The bristle portion 3 comprises a multiplicity of closely packed bristles divided as before at their upper ends by separation strips 31'. The lower end portion of the ferrule 4' may be provided with one or more peripheral ribs or beads The parts are assembled and bonded together as before by means of a suitable bonding compound 5.

The distinguishing feature of the second embodiment is the provision of a pair of downwardly directed flanges which are disposed adjacent the longer front and rear sides of the bristle-receiving portion 2. The flanges 50 preferably extend throughout the length of the bristlereceiving portion and, as herein illustrated, have straight, vertical inner surfaces 51 and obliquely inwardly tapering outer surfaces 52. The flanges taper in a downward direction, thereby directing the outer surfaces of the flanges away from the adjacent inner surface portions of the ferrule 4'. Adjacent the lower edges of said flanges, there are reverse tapers 54 which are directed outwardly to thereby provide lateral projections 53 which extend throughout the length of the flanges. The lower edges of the flanges are preferably closely adjacent or contiguous to the upper end of the bristle portion 30' or, in other words, substantially coplanar with the lower end of the shank 11'.

In the second embodiment of the invention, the solidified bonding compound 5 of the finished brush structure not only extends upwardly and embraces the grooved lower end of the shank 11' but it also embraces and interlocks with the lower edge portions of the flanges 50. The inward taper of the outer surfaces 52 is suflicient to dispose the projections 53 inwardly from the inner surface of the ferrule. As will be understood, the bonding compound thus flows freely upwardly around the outer surfaces of the flanges, as well as the inner surfaces thereof and portions of said compound mechanically interlock with said outwardly directed projections. As the flanges 50 are thus rigidly connected to the bristle portion 3 by the bonding compound, additional resistance to any upward movement of the bristle portion 3 is provided. The bristle portion, as before, is also rigidly bonded to the inner surface of the ferrule 4'.

In each embodiment of the invention, a brush structure is provided which allows quick and easy assembly of a handle to an enlarged, bristle-receiving portion Without the need for thread fitting or the use of supplemental fastening means. A single connecting means simultaneously bonds the upper ends of the bristles into a solid bristle knot and firmly attaches the handle to both the bristle-receiving portion and the bristles. In both embodiments, the ferrule is bonded directly to the bristle portion by the same means which bonds and locks the handle to said bristle portion.

It will be understood that many changes may be made in the details of the invention as herein described and illustrated, including changes in size and dimension, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A brush structure comprising a handle; a bristlereceiving portion; means providing a vertical bore through said bristle-receiving portion; said handle having a reduced shank adjacent the lower end thereof adapted to slidably interfit said bore; said shank projecting downwardly through said bore and projecting below said bristle-receiving portion; a tubular ferrule having its upper end portion surrounding a portion of said bristlereceiving portion and extending downwardly therefrom below said shank; a bristle portion disposed with its upper end within the lower end portion of said ferrule adjacent said shank; and solidified bonding compound disposed within said ferrule and bonding the upper end of said bristle portion into a solid bristle knot and covering the lower end of said handle shank whereby said shank is bonded to said compound.

2. A brush structure comprising a handle; a bristlereceiving portion; means providing a vertical bore through said bristle-receiving portion; said handle having a reduced shank adjacent the lower end thereof adapted to slidably interfit said bore; said shank projecting downwardly through said bore and projecting below said bristlc-receiving portion; a ferrule having its upper end portion surrounding a portion of said bristle-receiving portion and extending downwardly therefrom below said shank; a bristle portion disposed with its upper end within the lower end portion of said ferrule adjacent said shank; a solidified bonding compound disposed within said ferrule and bonding the upper end of said bristle portion into a solid bristle knot and covering the lower end of said shank; said shank being undercut in the portion thereof disposed within said compound thereby adhesively interlocking with said compound.

3. A brush structure comprising a handle; a solid bristle-receiving portion; means providing a smooth vertical bore through said bristle-receiving portion; said handle having a reduced, cylindrical shank adjacent the lower end thereof adapted to slidably interfit said bore; means providing a downwardly facing shoulder on said handle above said shank; said shank projecting downwardly through said bore and projecting below said bristle-receiving portion with said shoulder abutting said bristle receiving portion; a tubular ferrule having its upper end portion surrounding a portion of said bristle-receiving portion and extending downwardly therefrom below said shank; a bristle portion disposed with its upper end within the lower end portion of said ferrule adjacent said shank; solidified bonding compound disposed within said ferrule and bonding the upper end of said bristle portion into a solid bristle knot, bonding said knot to said ferrule, and covering the lower end of said handle shank whereby said shank is bonded to said compound; the lower end of said handle shank having a circumferential groove therein disposed below the level of said compound.

4. A brush structure comprising a handle; a bristlereceiving portion; means providing a nonthreaded aperture through said bristle-receiving portion; a nonthreaded, reduced portion of said handle projecting through and closely slidably interfitting said aperture and extending beyond said bristle-receiving portion; said bristle-receiving portion having flanges projecting therefrom in the same direction as said reduced handle portion; a tubular ferrule surrounding said bristle-receiving portion at one end of said ferrule and extending outwardly therebeyond in the same direction as said reduced handle portion; a bristle portion disposed Within the other end of said ferrule closely adjacent said reduced handle portion and said flanges; and solidified bonding compound disposed within said ferrule and bonding the upper end of said bristle portion into a solid bristle knot and adhesively embracing the end of said reduced handle portion and the edges of said flanges.

5. A brush structure comprising a handle; a solid bristle-receiving portion of generally rectangular horizontal section; means providing a nonthreaded aperture through said bristle-receiving portion; a portion of said handle projecting through said aperture and extending beyond said bristle-receiving portion; said bristlereceiving portion having flanges projecting from parallel sides thereof in the same direction as and on either side of said handle portion; said flanges having laterally directed projections at the distal edges thereof; a tubular ferrule surrounding said bristle-receiving portion at one end of said ferrule and extending outwardly therebeyond in the same direction as said handle portion; a bristle portion disposed within the other end of said ferrule closely adjacent said handle portion and said flanges; and solidified bonding compound disposed within said ferrule and bonding the upper end of said bristle portion into a solid bristle knot and adhesively embracing the end of said handle portion and the projections of said flanges.

6. A brush structure comprising a handle; a solid bristle-receiving portion of generally rectangular horizontal section; means providing a smooth vertical bore through said bristle-receiving portion; said handle having a nonthreaded reduced, cylindrical shank adjacent the lower end thereof; means providing a downwardly facing shoulder on said handle above said shank; said shank slidably projecting downwardly through said bore and projecting below said bristle-receiving portion with said shoulder abutting said bristle-receiving portion; the lower end portion of said shank having a circumferential, V-shaped groove therein; said bristle-receiving portion having flanges projecting downwardly from parallel edges thereof; said flanges having laterally directed projections at the lower edges thereof; a tubular ferrule having its upper end portion surrounding a portion of said bristlereceiving portion and extending downwardly therefrom below said shank and said flanges; a bristle portion disposed with its upper end within the lower end portion of said ferrule adjacent said shank and said flanges; solidified bonding compound disposed within said ferrule bonding the upper end of said bristle portion into a solid bristle knot, bonding said knot to said ferrule, and extending upwardly and covering said groove and said projections.

7. A brush structure comprising a handle having a gripping portion and a downwardly directed, diametrically reduced, cylindrical shank; means providing a circumferential shoulder on said handle above said shank; a horizontally disposed, elongated bristle-receiving portion having a downwardly facing, peripheral shoulder around the sides thereof spaced upwardly from its bottom surface; said receiving portion having a smooth, central, vertical bore through which said shank slidably projects in such manner that a lower end portion of said shank extends below said receiving portion and the shoulder of said handle abuts said receiving portion; said lower end portion, being circumferentially grooved; a ferrule having its upper end portion surrounding said receiving portion, in such manner that its upper edge seats against said shoulder of said receiving portion, and extending downwardly below said shank; a bristle portion having its knot disposed within the lower end portion of said ferrule adjacent said shank; and solidified bonding compound permeating said bristle knot and extending upwardly over the grooved lower end portion of said shank whereby said bristle knot is bonded to the inside of said ferrule, said lower end portion is locked to said bristle portion, and said ferrule is held immovable against said shoulder.

8. A brush structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein said receiving portion has flanges projecting downwardly from its longer side edges; said flanges tapering inwardly at the outer surfaces thereof and having laterally outwardly directed projections at their lower edges; said flanges projecting into said compound in such manner that said projections are disposed below the level of said compound.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,230,518 Robinson June 19, 1917 1,704,837 Jensen Mar. 12, 1929 2,080,821 Jacob et a1. May 18, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,768 France Oct. 11, 1907 (Addition to No. 363,723) 1,211,201 France Oct. 5, 1959 1,251,671 France Dec. 12, 1960 

1. A BRUSH STRUCTURE COMPRISING A HANDLE; A BRISTLERECEIVING PORTION; MEANS PROVIDING A VERTICAL BORE THROUGH SAID BRISTLE-RECEIVING PORTION; SAID HANDLE HAVING A REDUCED SHANK ADJACENT THE LOWER END THEREOF ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY INTERFIT SAID BORE; SAID SHANK PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID BORE AND PROJECTING BELOW SAID BRISTLE-RECEIVING PORTION; A TUBULAR FERRULE HAVING ITS UPPER END PORTION SURROUNDING A PORTION OF SAID BRISTLERECEIVING PORTION AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM BELOW SAID SHANK; A BRISTLE PORTION DISPOSED WITH ITS UPPER END WITHIN THE LOWER END PORTION OF SAID FERRULE ADJACENT SAID SHANK; AND SOLIDIFIED BONDING COMPOUND DISPOSED WITHIN SAID FERRULE AND BONDING THE UPPER END OF SAID BRISTLE PORTION INTO A SOLID BRISTLE KNOT AND COVERING THE LOWER END OF SAID HANDLE SHANK WHEREBY SAID SHANK IS BONDED TO SAID COMPOUND. 